Sustainability of caretaker concept

Political instability, stalemate in academic programs, heavy loss in commerce and trading, abrupt reverse momentum in revenue earnings, and various social hazards are the outcome. The CTG model is not practiced anywhere except in Bangladesh. However, the question that arises is whether or not this model can maintain its present form in future!

The Gettysburg address by Abraham Lincoln, on November 19, 1863, expressed the hope that "government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." This proclamation is unlikely to hold true for the caretaker government concept and model.

The caretaker government might be of the people, but it is, by no means, by the people. The rules and conditions set forth for the caretaker government format provide scope for misinterpretation, reinterpretation, or interpretation for self-justification. The provision for the caretaker government was not prepared after debate in the parliament.

The chief advisor of the CTG, as per the constitution, should be the immediate retired chief justice. The chief advisor would appoint a maximum of ten advisors. Ideally, the chief advisor should consult the political parties prior to the appointment of the advisors.

Obviously, the political parties would make suggestions with their party's interests in mind. In the process, the CTG loses its non-political, non-partisan, and neutral character. Instead, if the chief advisor appoints advisors on his own judgment he should do so from the social elite representing sectors of socio-economic practices. Looking at all such sectors it is hard to find people with absolutely non-political and non-partisan outlook.

Holding political views and ideologies is the basic democratic right of individual citizen but cannot be at the expense of democratic rights and duties towards the nation as a whole. Political partisanship emerges from the political ideas and views, and the success of a political party depends on how best it can sell the political programs to the people.

But if the political programs bring miseries and sufferings to the people, it is hard to gain any congenial sympathy and support. The non-political and neutral character of CTG model is hard to achieve under the present political and socio-economic status of the country.

Since the prime objective of the caretaker government to hold and gift a free, fair, and fearless election to the nation, the very existing political and socio-economic status contradicts with the CTG concept and model.

In order to achieve a free, fair, and acceptable election, it is of importance to make Election Commission an absolute independent one bestowed with definite power and duties under an act and ordinance by the Parliament.

Likewise, the Anti-Corruption Commission needs to be given independent power and duties under separate act and ordinance set by the parliament. The Public Service Commission needs to be reframed with amend act and ordinance to uphold and ensure quality and standard in selecting public servants.

These three institutions should be accountable directly to the president, hence the president needs to be elected through separate electorate.